Posted: 01/13/2005
I have enjoyed doing teaching and research in Christian origins because this field allows for rich interdisciplinary dialogue between scholars from various areas of study, such as New Testament studies, patristics, and Jewish studies, among others. In its core the field seeks dialogue between scholars from different hermeneutical and religious traditions and thus in no small way helps to fill in intellectual and existential gaps created by traditional disciplinary dichotomies between the Old Testament and the New Testament, Christian and Jewish, biblical and historical, that are often reinforced by scholarly societies, professional conferences, and refereed journals.
In my view the unique character of the department is its ability to transcend conventional boundaries between theological disciplines by creating a wide range of opportunities for scholars and students from various fields to enrich each other. I see great potential in the Department's commitment to interdisciplinary dialogue between biblical, systematical, ethical, and historical theological areas. During my Ph.D. studies I have greatly benefited from this dialogical character of theological education at Marquette . My scholarship and teaching in Christian origins and intertestamental literature puts me in a distinctive position to contribute to this interdisciplinary dialogue in the Department especially in the ongoing interchange between historical and biblical fields of study that has been greatly enhanced through the efforts of the Seminar on the Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism.
Theology Department Mission Statement
Marquette University defines itself as Christian, Catholic, Jesuit, urban, and independent. The Department of Theology functions within the university to investigate and understand the Catholic tradition, its relation to other Christian communions, and to other religions of the world. Read more of our mission statement.
